Bike Helmet-Mounted Speakers

I should add that, although I know the bare basics, (i.e. red is positive, black is negative) I don't know much else. I can't really make heads or tales of ohms, watts, etc. Some minor hand-holding would be infinitely appreciated.

This isn't the answer you asked for, but my recommendation would be to use headphones. Just don't get the kind that make a tight seal to the ear canal. Most modern headphones will be OK. The problem with speakers is that the farther away you get from the ear canal, the more bass is lost and the more power it takes to get the same apparent level.

Just my $0.02 worth....

Bob Masta dqatechATdaqartaDOTcom D A Q A R T A Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis

In your posting you mention that you want to hook a speaker up to "either side" of your helmet. Why don't you simply use one earphone? That will still let you hear traffic noise. Alternatively, I often hear people's music blasting from their headphones on the subway. If I can hear them 10 feet away, I would think you could take the same headphones and attach them to your helmet away from your ears. Then a simple turn on the volume and you'll have music and traffic noise!

A better choice would be those tiny ear hanger headphones they sell with MP3 players. They hang over your ear, and sort of push inside. They work well for running, anyway, and I don't think they would interfere with a bike helmet.

did it twice for driver and passenger using simple speakers of the kind they use in small transistor radios, say 250mW, 3" diameter built them right into the helmet, behind the black inside fabric into the shock-absorber material (white kind of insulation stuff) used a 3 pin connector hanging at the front left side of the helmet (loose connection, just incase of...) never had any probs with it, and nice sound too for many many miles